Full Stack Software Engineer (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds and London)

Genomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, we support the NHS’s world-first national whole genome sequencing service and run the growing National Genomic Research Library, alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives. By connecting research and clinical care at national scale, we enable immediate healthcare benefits and advances for the future.

Our mission is to provide the evidence and digital systems so that by 2035 genomics could play a role in up to half of all healthcare interactions, whilst securing the UK’s position as the best place to discover, prove and benefit from genomic innovations.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

Behind the Healthcare and Research outcomes, Genomics England delivers through designing, developing and operating complex healthcare software systems.

We're on the cusp of big changes with the real prospect of genomics becoming the fabric of everyday healthcare through the lifetime - from birth to old age.

Join Genomics England as a Full Stack Software Engineer

At Genomics England, we’re looking for a Full Stack Software Engineer with a demonstrable track record of delivering and owning backend software, alongside experience developing user-facing applications, and a passion for making a difference in genomics and healthcare.

As an experienced Full Stack Software Engineer, your expertise in both backend (Python) and frontend (JavaScript) software development will help support genomic testing and clinical decision-making at national scale. Your work will directly contribute to large-scale genomic analyses within a collaborative, supportive and empowering environment.

You will design, build and maintain secure, scalable and reliable Python-based backend services, with a strong understanding of the frontend products that interface with them. You’ll also design and develop user-facing products with an emphasis on optimal user experience.

You’ll join the Decision Support System (DSS) Platform Team, which predominantly focuses on backend Python development. You’ll also have the opportunity to work on frontend solutions alongside the Rare Disease and Cancer DSS squads, which own user-facing products that rely on DSS Platform backend services. DSS is a healthcare system that enables clinical scientists to analyse and visualise output from Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for patients, supporting them in making their interpretations of patients’ WGS.

Day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Focus primarily on backend software development and design, with opportunities to contribute to frontend development using Next.js.

• Develop scalable, high-quality Python code following best practices.

• Design, develop and maintain REST APIs for internal and external integrations.

• Work with relational databases, including AWS RDS and SQL-based solutions.

• Build and enhance test automation frameworks to support reliable, high-quality applications.

• Design and maintain resources hosted on AWS, ensuring their reliability and efficiency.

• Troubleshoot and support the resolution of issues during development and testing.

• Stay informed about industry developments and explore new technologies where they can add value.

• Collaborate closely with fellow software, QA and platform engineers to create reliable, seamless solutions.

• Use tools like GitLab, Confluence and Jira to support collaborative development.

Skills and experience for success:

• Expertise in Python and the ability to create scalable solutions.

• Expertise in JavaScript, alongside a strong understanding of frontend development and a passion for delivering an optimal user experience.

• Experience working with AWS and serverless architectures.

• Experience working with relational databases and SQL, ideally Postgres.

• Experience designing, developing and consuming REST APIs.

• Familiarity with agile methodologies and test-driven development.

• A proactive approach to teamwork and problem-solving using collaborative tools.

Additional skills we’d love to see:

• Experience with frontend development using Next.js, or a willingness to learn.

• A strong understanding of code review best practices.

• Experience mentoring or coaching junior team members.

If you want to use your full-stack software engineering expertise to directly support life-changing genomic research and healthcare innovation, we’d love to hear from you! Join Genomics England and help build the systems, services and platforms that enable world-leading genomic medicine and research at national scale.

A degree in Computer Science or equivalent relevant experience

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 18th November at 23:00 (UK time)

Salary from: £73,500 per annum

Please note: we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including: 

• Generous Leave:  30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays, plus additional leave for long service, and also the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
• Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double-matches up to 10%, however you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3x salary), an Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme and a Give As You Earn scheme.
• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.

Equal opportunities and our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace 

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background. 

Genomics England’s policies of non-discrimination and equity and will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part-time or employed under a permanent or a fixed-term contract or any other relevant factor.  

Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties. Our People policies outline our commitment to inclusivity. 

We aim to remove barriers in our recruitment processes and to be flexible with our interview processes. Should you require any adjustments that may help you to fully participate in the recruitment process, we encourage you to discuss this with us. 

Culture

We have four key behaviours that represent what we would like Genomics England to feel like and the culture we want to encourage, in order for us to achieve our mission. These behaviours help us all work well together, deliver on our outcomes, celebrate our successes and share feedback with each other. You can read about these and other aspects of our culture here Culture | Genomics England

Blended working model

Genomics England operates a blended working model as we know our people appreciate the flexibility that hybrid working can bring. We expect most people to come into the office a minimum of 2 times each month. However, this will vary according to role and will be agreed with your team leader. There is no expectation that people will return to the office full time unless they want to, however, some of our roles require full time on site attendance e.g., lab teams, reception team. 

Our teams and squads have, and will continue to reflect on what works best for them to work together successfully and have the freedom to design working patterns to suit, beyond the minimum. Our office locations are: Canary Wharf, Cambridge and Leeds.

Onboarding background checks

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.  We therefore require applicants to disclose any previous offences at point of application, as some unspent convictions may mean we are unable to proceed with your application due to the nature of our work in healthcare.